Lift installation work nearing completion at Marudhamalai Temple in Coimbatore

The work on lift facility at the Subramaniya Swamy Temple at Marudhamalai in Coimbatore is nearing completion, and is expected to be opened to public by August, according to officials from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.

At present, devotees visiting the hilltop shrine reach it either by walking along a footpath or using vehicles. From the vehicle parking area on the hill, devotees must climb 150 steps to reach the sanctum.

To ease access for devotees, the HR&CE Department initiated a ₹5.20-crore electric lift project, for which Chief Minister M.K. Stalin laid the foundation in April 2023.

A senior official said the lift facility has two levels. Devotees will first take a lift that goes up 14 metres from the parking area, walk 35 metres along a pathway, and then take a second lift that goes up another 8 metres. Together, the two lifts take devotees to the temple floor, which is 22 metres above the starting point. Each lift can carry up to 20 people. This two-level system was chosen to avoid blocking the view of the Rajagopuram, which would have happened with a single, taller lift.

The first stage — installation of the initial 14-metre lift — has been completed. The second stage, which includes excavation through rocky terrain to complete the second lift, is in its final stages.

In addition to the lift project, the temple’s infrastructure is being upgraded in two phases. Under Phase 1, a new annadanam hall covering 689.6 square metres and an amenities building for collecting baggage, mobile phones, and footwear are being constructed at a cost of ₹6 crore.

Phase 2 will include repairing the flight of steps and constructing 11 nizhal mandapams (shade pavilions) for devotees, along with other structural strengthening works, at an estimated cost of ₹10 crore. Tendering for this phase is currently under way.